Yep.....we could get used to this!!

What a wonderful day! We have definitely "settled in" to vacationing now! It seems like it always takes a day or two for everyone to relax and really enjoy....

We ventured out to "Smuggler's Cove" putt-putt course this morning!


This was just a warm-up for Brock...he and Chad golfed 18 REAL holes of golf later in the day!


Erica spent LOTS of time "busting the waves" today! She just wishes the water wasn't so salty!!


Micah got his first taste (literally) of the ice-cream at the Kandy Kitchen (affectionately known as the "Sugar Shack" to the Timmons family!)


After dinner, we took a litte "stroll" on the beach at sunset! Very pretty!


I think there is actually a cloud or two in the forecast for tomorrow.....GASP!!! Well, you know, those weathermen are sometimes wrong!!

And, just one more thing....

We are having a blast in Florida....but we sure miss you, Gummie. We will have lots of pictures and stories to tell you!!

Fun in the Sun!

Pool side....

Hitting the links...

Sand creations...

"Hmmmm....now, how do you do this???"

A castle fit for a king...

Yummy, choc-chip cookies!!

Ticket To Ride...daddy beat us all!!!

A fun-filled day!!

First we had breakfast, then we had Palm Sunday church in our condo, then to the pool, then to the beach, then back to the pool, then in for lunch, then naps and rest, then to the pool, then back to the beach (big waves this time), then dinner, then yummy ice-cream....yawn......this vacation schedule is NOT for wimps!!!



Wonder what tomorrow will hold??

Worth the drive....

6 more hours in the car...I think Micah was probably wondering if we had moved into our car!



All 3 kids did a GREAT job traveling...and once we got here, we were reminded WHY we would subject ourselves to 18 (? or so) hours driving. We arrived in time to play on the beach, swim in the gulf & in the pool, grocery shop, make spaghetti, and then swim some more (Brock and Erica, that is.....Micah was passed out in his "crib away from crib")!!

Here is the pool/beach view just a few steps outside our door...



Brock and Erica enjoyed their night-swim...




We even spotted some Florida wildlife!!.....



As we are surrounded with palm trees, I couldn't help but reflect...

The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the King of Israel!" Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,
"Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey's colt."

John 12:12-15

FLORIDA or bust!!!

Oh happy day!!

We are on our way to the great SUNSHINE STATE of FLORIDA!!!

We are posting from Macon, Georgia (thank you, Country Inn Suites, for free Wi-fi!!!)...10 hours down....8 to go. The kids did GREAT in the car. Very little complaining, very little arguing, and almost no tears (except for when I accidently crunched Micah's finger with my elbow.....but that was a quick recovery)



We even ran into Tim and Ali & family (my brother an sis-in-law and 3 kids) on their way to Alabama...



so we shared the road with them and even had lunch together in Tennessee. How fun is that...totally unplanned!


Thank you, Lord, for safe travel and happy kids!!

We will try to post some sun-and-sand pics soon!!!

The Second Half

This is a little embarrassing.

I have been meaning to get out my "Thankfulness List" for quite some time...so tonight I finally did. Two things shocked me: 1) I was only on #501...out of 1000! I had some delusion recently that I was in the 700's somewhere!! AND 2) My fourth to the last item on the list was "Christmas tree lights on at night"!

Oh my! It HAS been awhile!

Here are a couple of highlights from today's additions:
502. Spring!
504. Hastas....coming up again!
508. Longer days
510. Micah feeling better
514. New-found blogs
515. Old favorite blogs
517. Micah's new kisses
521. Bubble baths!

Only, what? 479 more to add!

Lord, open my eyes to all the blessing you have SHOWERED on me and my family!!

In everything give thanks;
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thess. 5:18

Inspired

I am inspired....or should I say "RE-inspired"....

A friend introduced me to a new website today. Tonight I decided to check it out a little more....and I loved what I read. I felt very convicted to go into my archives and dig out this "blast from the past" clip-art (from a post in November)...and even MORE convicted to take up arms against my snooze button. Not soley for the purpose of defeating the snooze....but for the bigger purpose (much, much bigger) of spending time with my Lord!

Pray for me, would you?? I soooooooooooo want this to be the way I start my day! EVERYday!

Here....go check out the article (and the website) for yourself.


My morning joys from Laines Letters.com

OK....gotta go. Morning seems to come so early!! =)

Happy Birthday, BROCK!!!!!

13 years ago today. 4:30 pm. 6 pounds, 12 ounces.

Seriously....13 years ago??!!!

Happy birthday, Brock.
Your dad and I are so proud of the young man that you are becoming. You are sensitive, funny, strong, smart...and soooooo much more! You have been a wonderful big brother...first to Erica...and now to Micah. We can't wait to see what the "teen years" have in store (take it easy on us, would ya????!!!!!)

We love you!

The lights are on, but no one is home!!

Is that what you have been thinking??
Thanks for still checking in. We do still live here...just haven't been posting much lately. Don't give up on 'OUR HOUSE' yet. I'll get my act together soon!!

=)

Go baby, go!!

3 (or is it 4??) trips to Florida for Spring Break.
3 Mission trips packed with high school youth.
1460 (or something like that) trips to school with the kids.
Countless drives to the hospital and office.
Hundreds of trips to church.
Loads and loads of kids going to various places.
Ballgames. Campouts. Weddings. Funerals.

She's still pretty. And she's still running great.
Never mind those sticky locks when it gets really, really cold.

Go baby, Go!!!!

Just a little chuckle.

This may be one of those "I guess you had to be there" kinda moments....but I am it sharing anyway. File it under "Kid's say the cutest things".

Yesterday in my office, I was seeing a 5 year old for a check-up. She was absolutely adorable...with her long curls and VERY bubbly personality. She had just told me about a classmate who was mean to other kids at school....and I responded "That makes me feel sad. But, you aren't mean to other kids at school, are you??" And her response just made me giggle. She said:

"NO, not EVER.
But sometimes when I growl at my friends, they THINK I am going to EAT them....but, really I'm NOT, I just want their attention."

=)

So, sweet friends, if ever I have growled at you....it was never with the intent to EAT you. It was probably just attention seeking behavior!! =)

Have a happy day!

A boy's best friend!

I could not resist posting a few pictures of Micah and Sugar playing together. I have been amazed at how wonderful Sugar has been with Micah....here, take a peek.....


"Now, where did I put my doggie-saddle??"



"Here, Sugar, let me rub your back with my dump-truck!!"



"At least when Brock and Erica aren't home...I still have someone to play with!!"

Looking forward to tomorrow!

As Erica said her prayers tonight, I was reminded of what "childlike faith" is....

Right there between the "Thank you for my family who helps me so much" and the "Thank you for our wonderful house" she said "Thank you for a great day tomorrow!"

At first I thought she had misspoken...of course I would think that....because "childlike faith" is harder to have once you are a [mature] adult. But, actually, it is EXACTLY what she meant to say...and she is fully convinced that tomorrow will, indeed, be a great day.

So am I.

"He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 18:2-4

Music to my ears!

Ma-ma.
Ma-ma.
Ma-ma.
Ma-ma.
Ma-ma.

MA-MA!!!!!!!!!!!

This morning as I was changing Micah's diaper......"Ma-ma"!!!
Be still my heart.
Finally.
Music to my ears.
He calls Chad "Da-da" and Brock "Ba-Ba" and Erica "Sssss" (for sis) and Sugar "Dog" and Jesus "Sheesus".....but until this morning....mommy was "?????"... not a word, just two arms reaching out for me.

But not anymore.
Not after today.
"Ma-ma"

As I came downstairs and shared my excitement with Erica (who had heard the whole thing on the baby monitor), she said "I know, but he will never say it again if you keep screaming and jumping like that!!"

"Ma-ma"
Seriously, I can't wait until that little guy wakes up in the morning so I can hear it again!! =)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. "

Jeremiah 29:11

Happy Birthday, sweet Isaac!

Somewhere in Guatemala, Isaac turned 2 years old today! We trust that the Lord is keeping him safe, as we continue to pray for him as a family. It would mean so much today if you all would take a minute to lift him up in prayer as well!!

When I think back over the 8 months that we called Isaac "ours"...I am reminded that our most important task as parents is to entrust our children into the Lord's hands....to remember that they are HIS first and foremost. I will be honest in saying that at times my heart aches for our "loss"...and I try to make sense of it all....but the reality is, I serve a sovereign God who makes NO mistakes...Isaac was (and continues to be) a beautiful part of the Master's plan for the Timmons family.

One of the songs that will always, always, always remind me of our adoption journey is "Blessed Be Your Name"...

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

Micah's First Snow!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, right??.....so......here's the equivalent of five thousand words, and I will just keep quiet!

Snow days!!

Just when we had started to dig our way out....more snow today!!!
The kids have been LOVING it! They have been out of school since last Monday....a full week!!

We have tried to do all the things you are supposed to do when there is lots of snow....

...sledding
...four-wheeling (Thanks, Garrett!)
...hot chocolate (and LOTS of it!)
...sleeping in
...games in front of a toasty fire
...digging tunnels in snow drifts
...card games with friends

Is there anything we are forgetting?

God's voice thunders in marvelous ways;
he does great things beyond our understanding.
He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,'
and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.'

Job 37:5-6

Knock, Knock.......Anyone home?????

Have you started to wonder if anyone even lives at the HOUSE-blog anymore?????

We still do....I have just been in a season of computer-free days.

I am hoping that season is coming to an end today....so please don't stop visiting!

Those Colts sure know how to celebrate!!!!

Check out this picture from the Colts lockerroom after the SuperBowl!!!!



I am not saying that every player on the Colts team is a dedicated Christian.
I am not saying that I think that these guys are saints.
and I am certainly not saying that any coach or player should be "idolized".

BUT, what I am saying is this...

It is refreshing and encouraging to see Coach Dungy and many of the Colts players make a very deliberate effort to use this victory as a platform from which to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11

More Than Just A Game....

How fun.....THE COLTS ARE IN THE SUPERBOWL!!

We will have a great time watching the game tonight.....cheering, yelling, stomping, cheering some more! oh...and eating lots of yummy food with friends!

BUT.....what I love so much more than just watching this team of ours play football, is knowing where many of players and coaches have placed their priorities. Have you seen Coach Tony Dungy interviewed this week?? He doesn't let many interviews go by without giving credit to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ (and I would imagine that the times you don't see him talk about it, it's because it got "edtited out")

I am thankful that there are still many positive Christian role models for our kids, and I am encouraged that Coach Dungy and so many of the players are willing to speak out about their relationship with Christ!

I was especially blessed this week when our friend, Mike, emailed us about this website:


Beyond The Ultimate


Go check it out!!!

A Very Full Day

Yep….it was a BUSY Saturday!

Erica’s basketball game.
Then Brock’s basketball tourney.
Then Micah’s post-placement visit with our social worker.
Then dinner with Tim, Ali, Tyler, Zack and Faith.

Whew…busy day.
The kids all fell asleep on the way home from dinner…a very quiet ride home, for sure.

I think Chad may have even caught a few zzzzzzzz’s on the way home…and HE was driving!!!

Fortunately there is nothing on the agenda for tomorrow, I am hoping for a very restful Sabbath.

Just like the "old days"...well, sorta.

Lookie what Erica and I whipped out tonight!

Don't ya just feel like you are looking at a scene right out of Little House on the Prairie?
Oh, come on, humor us!!

Erica wanted to make this skirt and apron for a little birthday party tomorrow. Her friend Genny invited Erica and another girl over for a "Laura Ingalls" theme celebration of her birthday. That sewing machine sure came in handy today!

Erica loves her skirt and apron...and she loves having to grab her skirt with both hands and pull it up a little so to climb stairs..."you know, like they would of done to cross a creek or something!) =)







I had to laugh, though, when right after we had finished, Genny called to make sure Erica was coming...I said "Yes! and she has her outfit all ready!"....and of course Genny replied, "OH, well we had 3 outfits to dress up in already!"

Well, now, my dear Genny, you have FOUR!!!
Happy Birthday!

What fun we had!!

This past weekend, Micah and I traveled across several time zones to spend time with our dear friend Stacy and her family! We had a GREAT time!



Washington state is beautiful...even when it is cold and snowy! Have I ever mentioned that I love mountains...seriously...they rank up there with sunsets and beaches for me! Micah was a trooper during our travels. The trip out was easier than the trip back (this "napping on the plane" picture, then, would obviously be on the trip out!)



Stacy's children are so sweet, and it was so fun to just hang out and be part of the family!



I especially loved to see Micah and sweet little Isaias playing together (not to mention their warm embraces of each other)...these boys first hung out together at Hannah's Hope orphange in Guatemala City!



Stacy is SUCH a good mommy! Her children adore her...and for good reason!



I continue to be amazed at the friendship that God wove together across these many miles. And I am thankful that Stacy would welcome Micah and I into her home!!! OH....and that reminds me to thank her hubby Mark, too! Wait...no pictures of Mark?? gasp! Well, anyway...he was quite the host... even baby sitting so that Stacy and I could enjoy a quiet dinner out!



What a blessing. And what sweet memories to treasure!!

And the rest of the family? Chad, Brock and Erica survived the 4 Micah-less days...but were very, very happy to wrap their arms around him at the airport. And I am reminded again how blessed I am by my sweet husband...he was super-fun-dad while I was gone, he was so happy for me to be able to share these days with Stacy, and he even had the house all tidy when we arrived home!

Immeasurably more!!!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine... Ephesians 3:20

6 years ago today it happened. We met for the first time together as "accountability partners."

I had been to a conference where the speaker talked about what a blessing an accountability partner can be...you know, that whole "iron sharpens iron" thing!? And after praying about it, I really felt like I should have one. But who? and how? and what? Over the next couple of weeks, a few different people crossed my mind....but I kept coming back to this "Carrie" person in my Sunday School class...I knew her a little bit, but would she think the idea was crazy? We talked about it and decided to give it a try. An accountability partner...GREAT! just what I had prayed for!!

But....

What exactly do accountability partners do when they meet?? Hmmmmm. Well, we sure wouldn't let a lack of direction stand in our way. We met that first time at Carrie's house, we shared prayer requests, and talked about the areas we felt we needed the most accountability, we talked about how our "meeting time" should go, we discussed starting some sort of Bible study together, we prayed,

... and I don't remember what we ate....but surely we ate something!!

And we did it all again the next week.
And the next.
And the next.
And the next.
Every week. With VERY few exceptions. For 6 years.

Over time, it became obvious that this sister in Christ shared so many of my views on so many things...and I loved talking to her...and I loved praying with her...and I loved studying the Bible with her...and I loved that our families had started hanging out together...and I loved that we laughed together, and I loved that we cried together.

I am not sure exactly when it happened...but at some point along the way, I realized that I had prayed for an accountablility partner, but the Lord had delivered into my life a very best friend. Indeed, "immeasutably more" than I had asked or imagined.

And so that is how it all started. 6 years ago today. And I am thankful....beyond words.

Go Horse!!

There are probably at least 50 things that I could post tonight that would be more important than me telling you that THE COLTS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!!! But, I am too worn out from watching that crazy game to post much of anything! ....stay tuned...tomorrow I will be post about our trip to visit Stacy!

Did I mention that the Colts are going to the Super Bowl!?!?!

Yipppeeeeee! How fun! Go Blue!

HI!! ....from the Pacific Northwest!!

We're not in Indiana anymore, Toto!!

Micah and I have journeyed to see our dear friends...Stacy and her family! Our long distance friendship with their family started during our adoption process. We are now sleeping about as far from Indiana as you can get and still be in the Continental United States!

Micah was a trooper on the trip here. God blessed us by giving us an entire row of seats to ourselves on the flight from St. Louis to here! Thank you, Lord!!! He napped and played and snacked and flirted with the girls in the row behind us. Next thing I knew...we were landing!

It has been such a blessing already to catch up with Stacy and her family. We are looking forward to 3 more days to share in their lives. Details and pictures will be coming soon! My only regret is that the whole family did not make this trip...Brock and Erica were not thrilled about me whisking Micah away for 4 days, that's for sure!

Ok...gotta go...I can smell those muffins cooking! Yummy!

And the cute little baby finally just passed out....

Goodness. Things have been bustling around here!

The Christmas trees are finally down (oooops. except that one in Erica's room. still gotta do that one!)....sad isn't it? middle of January. But, seriously, the kids BEGGED me to leave them up until they went back to school, which was just Tuesday...so, that's not so bad, right?

We are back into the swing of school and basketball.

But, the real bustle is....we are finally finishing our master bathroom/closet!!! I say FINALLY because we did our remodeling like 2 years ago. We had planned all along to wait awhile on finishing THAT part, but, I had secretly.....or not so secretly.....hoped that it would have been done by now. We have had little "blips" of progress over the past 2 years, but I think we are in the serious pursuit of the END at this point! Maybe I will post some "before and after" pics sometime?!? Lots of dust at this point, and lots of decisions...fixtures, tub, paint color, cabinets, toilet....sigh.

Micah has loved exploring this new area of the house. If the door to the bathroom is open, he is headed in there. He has played in the drywall mud, tried his skills at hammering, painted his arm and hair...you know, all that good stuff! Like any good human with a Y chromosome, though, he gets BORED with the shopping. Here he is on our "light fixture" outing yesterday....



...better sleeping than crying, right!?!? Good boy....you just sleep there and let mama shop.

He chose me...

I have quoted Ann, from Holy Experience before...and I am going to again today...and I will probably quote her again in the future. If you have never been to her blog before, I highly recommend you visit.

Anyway, I was reading this post and came to this C.S. Lewis quote:

"He could if He chose, repair our bodies miraculously without food;
or give us food without the aid of farmers, bakers, and butchers;
or knowledge without the aid of learned men;
or convert the heathen without missionaries.
Instead He allows soil and weather and animals,
and the muscles, minds and wills of men
to co-operate in the execution of His will."
~C.S. Lewis

And then Ann added this prayer:

You could, if You chose, raise up children without mothers. But You choose to use us.

May my mind,
and my will
and my tongue
co-operate in the execution of Your will today, Lord...

Put Your words in my mouth, Your love in my heart, Your thoughts in my mind today, Father.
All of me is an instrument of Your will.
Use me.

And....it hit me...God did not NEED me to raise Brock, Erica and Micah....He CHOSE me to do it because He WANTED me to do it. ME. ME! With all my failures (and He KNEW that I was going to fail sometimes!) and all my weaknesses (He created me with those weaknesses, don't you know??)...despite all of that, He CHOSE me...

....and I am so honored!

Thank you, Lord, for this priviledge. I am your servant...use ME.

Sigh.....so what if I wore jeans!?!?!?!

Sigh.

Back to work after almost 2 weeks away from the office!

I "eased" back into it by:
1. Taking Erica with me....she was begging to go, and I LOVE it when my kids want to go with me!!
2. Just couldn't pull out those "professional clothes" this week...stickin' with the jeans for another couple of days!!

So...how about you?? Getting back into the usual routine yet?

The blind leading the blind!!

Gummie gave Erica a new sewing machine for Christmas...and, well, this morning we decided to get 'er out of the box and give it a whirl!

Erica wanted to make some PJ's for her American Girl doll.

I am NOT a seamstress...seriously...1 year of 4-H sewing...and then there were those pillow cases we made in home-ec class in high school. Anyway, it was enough to make me think we could tackle a pair of PJ's. And, so we did. Erica did almost all the sewing on the bottoms!!

Don't look too close. We made our own pattern.

They may not be perfect, but Erica thinks they are "VERY PRETTY"!




Next up....Erica wants to do some pattern shopping....stay tuned!

Happy New Year 2007!!!!

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!"
2 Cor. 5:17

We pray that your 2007 will be filled with many blessings from God's loving hand!

Aren't you glad that we serve a God of fresh starts, new beginnings and clean slates!?!?!